Tag Archives: digestion

Enzymes found in roots and stems of pineapples show promise in the war against superbugs.

Scientists working to find new ways to treat antibiotic-resistant superbugs have discovered a possibility in the stems and roots of pineapples. A group of three enzymes known as bromelain were initially discovered in the 1930s, but the uncovering of their antibiotic qualities happened only a few decades ago, with Australian scientists now using the enzymes to cure diarrhea in piglets. According to Rob Pike, a biochemist from LaTrobe University located in Melbourne, Australia, since pigs and humans are anatomically and physiologically similar in several ways, the enzyme has the potential to provide an alternative treatment for people. While antibiotics target bacteria, bromelain works with the cells in the gut by making it difficult for the bacteria to stick to the cells. The chance of the bacteria evolving and becoming resistant is also limited by the three enzymes targeting gut cells. Scientists hope this will be the case in humans, so diarrhea will not occur.

It is crucial to find alternative treatments for superbugs, because they are predicted to kill about 10 million people a year by 2050; more than the number of people killed by cancer. Scientists hope the new enzymes from pineapple can be used as another weapon to fight bacteria, as many antibiotics do not work as well as they used to. “The momentum to develop alternatives to antibiotics is there now because people believe antibiotics are on the way out and we need something to replace them.”

Professor Pike and his colleague Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema is presently developing the alternative treatment to antibiotics along with Anatara Life Science, which also conducted the animal trials.

What if there was a common household spice that could rebuild the gut wall to improve digestion, destroy cancer cells, stop a heart attack in its tracks and was useful for weight loss? I’m assuming you’d want to know more about it, right?

The hot fruit of the cayenne plant (“capsicum annuum”) has been used as a superb culinary spice for centuries and may be the most valuable medicinal herb in the entire plant kingdom for many of the reasons mentioned above !

High in vitamins A, C, B complex, calcium and potassium, studies have shown that cayenne can rebuild the tissue in the stomach and the peristaltic action in the intestines. Moreover, cayenne acts as a catalyst and increases the effectiveness of other herbs and alternative cancer treatments.

Have you ever gone after the chips and salsa with gusto and then felt flushed while your nose started to run a little bit? Cayenne warms the body and stimulates the release of mucus from the respiratory passages. If you’ve ever eaten a fresh hot pepper, you know it clears the sinuses and causes sweating.

There are 300 or more different species of Aloe. The most prominent variety, Aloe barbadensis, Miller commonly referred to as Aloe vera, is especially noted for its amazing healing abilities. Although Aloe vera resembles a cactus, it actually belongs to the family of liliaceous plants and is indigenous to subtropical regions and deserts.

The etymology of the word Aloe is Arabic; It’s derived from the Arabic word “Alloeh,” which means: “shining bitter substance.” While the word “vera” stems from Latin and means “true.” 6,000 year old stone carvings containing images of Aloe vera plants have been found in Egypt, where Aloe vera was known as the “plant of immortality”. In fact, it was commonly given to deceased pharaohs as a burial gift! 2000 years ago Greek scientists deemed Aloe vera the “universal panacea.” Historically, Aloe vera has been successfully used by traditional medicine practitioners in many disparate cultures including: Greece, Egypt, India, Mexico, Japan and China. According to legend, Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra used it as part of their regular beauty regimes. Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus used it to treat soldiers’ wounds. (more…)

As we approach spring, marketing madness will of course strip us of our sensibility and convince us that now is the time for change. A new year; a new you. Weight loss fads and a detox in the box is just what the doctor ordered, isn’t it? “Come one, come all; choose your potion, swallow your pill, take your natural products to prevent you from getting ill.” Plus, as the bitter face chilling cold of the Great White North begins to etch at our bones, our deepening desire to stay warm, active, and support our immune system (and sanity) becomes ever apparent. We turn to our natural health care providers (Television and Google) in hopes of gaining calm within a storm of confusion. Is it the carrot diet, bread and water diet, the one meat only diet, or the no diet? Maybe it’s the “see food” or “no food” diet. I just want to know what ever happened to my number one, simple, inexpensive, unbelievably reliable and scientifically validated herb that I, along with rest of the world pretty much used to use for everything.

Whether you suffer from tummy troubles or not, if you get occasional heartburn or acid reflux, you could benefit from some digestive support. Try these tips to tame heartburn and put out the fire for good!

Believe it or not, acid reflux is usually not an issue of having too much acid. Proton pump inhibitors and acid reducers can actually throw a monkey wrench into the situation because stomach acid is vital for normal digestion. Lowering stomach acid can lead to malabsorption of fats, fat-soluble vitamins and vitamin B12, which depend on stomach acid for digestion. Proton pump inhibitors like Nexium or Omeprazole notoriously deplete vitamins B12 and C, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, chromium, beta carotene, and zinc. Plus, long-term use of these medications can lead to dependence. For this reason, the goal should be to only use medications temporarily and solve the root of the issue instead.

Your gut isn’t just where you shovel in the grub. It’s also a delicate, micro-ecosystem that keeps your whole body healthy.

Photograph By Thinkstock

To get your health on track, look no further than your gut. The digestive tract does more than just process your breakfast, lunch, and dinner, according to a review of the current literature published in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. Your gut microbiome has far-reaching effects on your health that you’d never expect.

The creation of a person’s gut composition starts at birth as an the infant is exposed to the bacteria in his or her mother’s birth canal. “The initial gut colonization is instrumental in shaping the composition of the adult’s gut microbiota,” report the researchers. From then on, there are both internal and external factors that can affect your gut, including environmental microbes, foods you eat, intestinal pH, and drugs.

About 12% of Americans develop thyroid disease, and of those who get it 60% will never know they have it. [1] That’s a problem. The thyroid regulates hormone balance and contributes to weight, mood, and mental stability. If ignored, a thyroid imbalance can develop into serious medical conditions. Awareness is key, so to help, here are 10 symptoms of thyroid problems that are often missed.

Where does it all start? This important question can determine the success or failure of medical treatments so we better get it right. Actually there are several starting places to chronic illness but the one I want to talk about here starts in the stomach, which starts screaming at us with a host of GERD symptoms when things start going wrong in our lives.

One of the most important points for doctors and patients to realize is that GERD is a deficiency disease meaning it is not caused by excess acid it is caused by deficient acid. When the stomach does not produce enough acid the food sits in the stomach and repeats back up to the esophageal sphincter. It is, as they call it an excess acid condition only because it is an acid mix, just not high enough to create proper digestion, but high enough to burn tissues that it is exposed long enough to. (more…)

Reaching for antacids all the time?

Do you stash bottles of antacids in your car, office and home? Or do you experience less frequent but still very uncomfortable bouts of heartburn? Then your body is telling you something… and the message is NOT to take a swig of liquid antacid medication or pop some pills.